<h2>Vitamins</h2>
<p class="para">Vitamins are organic compounds required by organisms as vital nutrients in limited amounts. Vitamins are therefore essential to a balanced diet. Vitamins have a variety of functions in the body. Some vitamins are coenzymes, which means that they help enzymes to catalyse a reaction efficiently. Some are responsible for regulating <a data-lesson="metabolism" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="protists" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/protists/metabolism">metabolism</a> or act as regulators of cell and tissue <a data-lesson="population-growth-patterns" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="ecology-overview" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/ecology-overview/population-growth-patterns">growth</a> and differentiation.</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<h3><b class="emphasis">Vitamin</b></h3>
</td>
<td>
<h3><b class="emphasis">Role</b></h3>
</td>
<td>
<h3><b class="emphasis">Food sources</b></h3>
</td>
<td>
<h3><b class="emphasis">Deficiency disease</b></h3>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vitamin A</td>
<td>Needed for proper functioning of eyes</td>
<td>liver, carrots, egg</td>
<td>night blindness</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vitamin B (A group of vitamins with related functions)</td>
<td>Carbohydrate, protein, lipid, nucleic acid and alcohol metabolism; neurotransmitter synthesis and nerve function; red <a data-lesson="blood-2" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="human-biology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/human-biology/blood-2">blood</a> cell production</td>
<td>grains, potatoes, bananas</td>
<td>B1- beriberi, B3- pellagra, B6, B9, B12- anaemia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vitamin C</td>
<td>Combines with key enzymes in metabolic reactions</td>
<td>citrus <a data-lesson="fruit" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="seed-plants" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/seed-plants/fruit">fruit</a> (oranges, lemons etc)</td>
<td>scurvy (results in bleeding gums)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vitamin D</td>
<td>Metabolites important in absorption of <a data-lesson="minerals" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="chemistry-of-life-intro" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/chemistry-of-life-intro/minerals">minerals</a> from the gut (such as calcium and phosphate)</td>
<td>sunshine</td>
<td>rickets (resulting in soft bones, with bowed legs and widened wrists)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vitamin E</td>
<td>Acts as an anti-oxidant</td>
<td>margarine, soybean oil, fortified cereals, condensed cow's milk, cheese, orange juice</td>
<td>depressed <a data-lesson="disruptions-in-the-immune-system" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="immune-system" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/immune-system/disruptions-in-the-immune-system">immune</a> system, anaemia, poor nerve conduction</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_98785" style="width: 535px"><a href="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/a5cfb6b2-a844-4e6f-aea6-dbe5811c166a"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-98785" height="547" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/a5cfb6b2-a844-4e6f-aea6-dbe5811c166a" width="535"/></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image credit: Siyavula</p></div>

ad260561-7f24-4cf8-a3f2-b129f5e47c91

Vitamins

Biology studies life and living organisms. Biology can be divided into different sections that cover the morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, and so on of living organisms.

Biology

Discover the fundamental role of chemistry in life, explore the importance of molecules such as water, minerals, and nutrients for plant growth, and learn about the essential organic compounds, such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, as well as enzymes, nucleic acids, and vitamins, and the recommended dietary allowance.


Vitamins

Track Your Learning Progress